Gasolene service-station



u. R. MCCUTCHEN. GASOLENE SERVICE STATION. APPLICATION FILED APR. I5, ISIS. 1,387,421 Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

U.- R. MCCUTCHEN.

GASOLENE SERVICE STATION.

y Amm/mow man APR. 15, 1919. '/Aizl. Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

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GASOLENE SERVICESTATION. I l APPLICATION FILED APR. l5, |919. 1,387,421.. Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

@I fx I l 'mmwmw U. R. IVICCUTGHEN.

GASOLENE SERVICE STATION.

VAPPLICATION FILED APR. l5. |919.

j j 1,387,421 l Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

afs/wauw@ XUL wzkz@ AUNITED STATES PATENT orifice.'v

'URIAI-I R. MCCUTCHEN, OF SPRINGEIIELDy ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO JOHN' A. IBRYDEN AND ONE-THIRD T0 JAMES A, HALL, BOTH OF SPRINGFIELD ILLINOIS.

GAsoLENE SERVICE-STATION.

Patented ug. 9, 1921.

Application led April 15, 1919. Seriall No. 290,202. f

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, URIAH R. MGCUTGHEN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Sangamon and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gasolene Service-Stations; and'I do declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and vuse the same.

My invention relates to that class of liquid i dispensing apparatus (particularly gasolene service stations) in which the liquid is in` troduced by a vacuum line or otherwise into an elevated dispensing and measuring container and discharged from the latter by gravity. Several systems of this general type have been heretofore devised but my invention has for one of its foremost objects to simplify the construction of such systems,

particularly by dispensing with the separate Heat chamber heretofore employed for operating the cut-off valve for the vacuum line; and by locatingsaid vacuum line in a much more desirable manner for ease of manufacture, assembly, repair, etc.

In the improved apparatus, an overflow line is provided to drain all liquid in excess of a predetermined quantity, from the dispensing container before opening the outlet of the latter, and a further object is to provide means to preventpassage of liquid through said overflow until the float valve has been closed by such liquid to cut off the suction.

Another object is to make novel provision for draining the entire system each night, or whenever its use is discontinued. thus leaving no liquid above ground. This is of particular advantage in gasolene service stations or when the apparatus is used for dispensing other highly volatile and explosive liquids.

Yet .another object is to provide a housing for parts of the system having. a door which must be opened before the system can be operated, novel means being provided for preventing drainage of the system when said doormis opened and for permitting such drainage when the ldoor is shut, for instance, when the service station is closed at night.

A still further object is to provide a single check valve in a combined supply and drainage line for preventing drainage when the system is in use but for permitting vsuch drainage when operation of the apparatus is discontinued. y

With the foregoing objects in` view, the invention resides in the novel construction and arrangement .of parts as hereinafter n supply tank.

1g. 5 is an enlarged vertical transverse section through one of the dispensing containers and associated parts.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the check valve which normally prevents return of liquid through the supply piping, showing also the means for holding said valveopen whenthe aforementioned door is closed.

ig. 7 is aperspect-ive view similar to Fig. 4 but illustrating' another form of the invention.

Briefly speaking. the system consists of a supply tank 1 preferably located below the surface of tlie ground; a vacuum tank 2; a frame structureor the like 3 supporting one or more measuring and dispensing containers 4; piping and valves for controlling the suction, the supply and discharge for the portion of the apparatus above ground, and a vmotor driven pump (not shown) is provided for maintaining the vacuum in said tank. A housing 7 is provided at the lower end of the frame structure 3, said housing having a downwardly' swinging front door 8 and an end' door 9, the latter being preferably formed of two sections hingedtogether as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, and brackets 10. may well be provided for limiting the opening movement of said door9 to form a convenient shelf of the inner section thereof. When the two doors 8 and 9 are closed, the numerous parts of the system are inaccessible and consequently the apparatus cannot be operated, and it may here be stated that although two doors are preferably provided, only one need be used in some instances. In most forms of my invention, one door is essential, not only to give access to the controls of the system, but to. operate the valve which either prevents or allows drainage of the system.

The frame structure 3 may be of any adequate formation but preferably includes upright corner posts 11 and a roof 12 which may well carry electric lights 13. Similarly, the exact shape and design of the dispensing and measuring containers 4 may vary as occasion may dictate, but I prefer to form said containers of glass jars having outlet necks 14 seated in a fluid-tight manner in appropriate couplings 15 which may well rest on the top of the housing 7. The upper ends 16 of the containers 4 are preferably removable and gaskets 17 are provided to prevent leakage, and although any preferred means could be employed for clamping the 4 ends 16 in place, I have shown a crown plate 18 secured by bolts 19 to the corner posts 11. This crown plate may' support the roof 12 by means of vertical posts or the like 20.

A vacuum line 21, in the preferred form of my invention, leads from the vacuum tank 2 to the upper end of each container 4 and at the juncture of each vacuum line with its respective container, a valve 22 is provided, closable by the rising liquid in the container, through the instrumentality of a float 23, which may well be connected to the valve proper by a stem 24. By locating the float 23 directly in the upper end of the container 4 and positioning the vacuum line 21 on the exterior of said container, the

construction of the apparatus is greatly simplified over similar systems which have heretofore been devised.

Preferably, each :float 23 will be housed within an open cage 25, but it will be understood that the type of float, the form of valve, and the .mouutings of these parts, may well vary in numerous ways. Depending from each container 4 is a four-way coupling C having one upwardly and one downwardly extending branch 2G and 27 respectively and two laterally extendserve as fuel outlets into piping 30 from which the usual hose 31 extends, a valve 32 being positioned between each coupling C and said hose, in order that operation of one unit of the apparatus will not affect the other. An overflow pipe 33 passes through each coupling .C and rises into the container 4 to such a height as to allow any liquid over a predetermined amount, five gallons for instance, to drain from said container. It will'b'e observed that suiiicientl space 34 exists between, the overflow 33 and the branch 26 to allow the liquid to discharge through the latter and it will also be seen, (reference being made more particularly to Fig. 5,) that the pipe 33 passes adjustably through the branch 27, being held in adjusted position by a locknut 35. A gasket 36 is provided between the nut and the branch 27 to prevent any possibility of leakage. It ris intendedtiiat an authorized Government inspector shall adjust the overflow 33 properly to prevent drainage of an improper amount of liquid from the container 4, prior to vending of sucli liquid to a customer, and Y when once set, the nut 35l may be held against tampering by a seal 37.

In order to allow operation of the apparatus in the required manner, it is necessary to supply slightly more than the proper amount ofliquid to the container 4, the sur-Y plus then draining out through the pipe 33. Before this drainage takes place however, the float 23 is raised by the liquid to close the valve 2,2, thus cutting oil' the vacuum line from the container.

The features-so far described are identical in botiii forms of the invention, but separate descriptions of the other features thereof will b necessary.l

In the type of the apparatus disclosed in The piping 38 includes a valve 115 piping 38 to the supply 12'0 tank-1. When the door 9 is closed however,

it forces a rod 44 inwardly to prevent closing of the valve 43, said rod passing through the tuiiiiig box 42 and being slidably receiv yd in a tubular guide 45 with which said 125 valve is provided. When the door 9 stands open, the rod and valve assume the relative positions shown in Fig. 6 and said rod will not prevent closing of the check valve when the container 4 has been filled with liquid, 130

V45 and thus positively but Whenv said rod is shifted inwardly by closing of the door, it abuts the end of guide revents closing of the .valve 43, thus allowing all liquid from the system to drain into the supply tank 1..

Any preferred means might be provided for operating the rod 44 from the' door 9, but I preferably provide a slotted link 46 connect-ing the tivo for this purpose. When the door 9 is closed the link 4G` stands as seen in Fig. 2 but when the door is opened said link pulls upon the rod 44 to return the latter to an inoperative position.

Piping 47 connects the lower ends of the overflow pipes 33 and communicates at 48 with the supply piping 38. and in order that vthe excess liquid may not flow through either 0f the two pipes 33 until closing of the valve 22 of the filling chamber has taken place, cut-off valves 49 are provided for the piping 47.

For manually discontinuing the' suction through the vacuum lines 21, suitable valves 50 maybe provided. It the suction is of' suiicient strength to hold the valve 22 closed While the container 4 is discharging, each valve 50 may be provided with a vent 51 and it will thus beseen that when discharging of the liquid is complete, closing of the valve 50 to cut off suction through the suc-tion line 21, and simultaneous opening of the vent 51 Will'allow atmospheric air to enter and relieve the vacuum acting upon valve 22, thus allowing the latter to drop to open position. It will be seen that the vent 51 and the upper portion of the vacuum line 21 will supply suiiicient air to the upper end ofthe container 4, to allowrdischarge of the liquid therefrom. r

Although I intend the use of an ordinary two-Way valve at 50, any other preferred valve could be used, but it would then be l necessary to providegother means'for ad- Aot' the piping mitting air into the upper end of the container 4 and for releasing the valve 22 if the suction in the apparatus is sufficiently strong to retain the same in closed position as the li uid discharges.

n the form of the apparatus disclosed in I*`ig.l 7, supply piping 52 leads to the branches 29 of thecouplings C from the supply tank 1 and to prevent the return ot' liquid through this piping, check valves 53 are provided therein. Piping 54 connects the lower ends of the overflow pipes 33 and discharges into the. fuel tank 1, a branch pipe 55 depen/.ls from the piping 52 adj acent one coupling (l, extends laterally at 5G and communicates with the piping 54, and leading from said piping 52 at a point adjacent the other coupling C, is a pipe 57. An ordinaryv cut-ottl valve 58 is located in the horizontal part 5,6 54 and is provided with an operating arm 59 which is loosely linked at (30 to the door Then the door is opened for use of the appzuatus, the valve 58 is closed, but when said door is closed, the valve in questionv is opened, thus allowing the entire system to drain. As in the form of thel device above prescribed, cut-rtf valves 61 are provided to prevent passage of the excess liquid through the overflow pipes 33 until operation of the floats 23, said valves being located in the piping 54. f Valves 50 are shown in the vacuum line 2O in Fig. 7 for performing the saine functions as the `valves 50, said valves having vents 51". y j

The operation of the first described forni ofthe invention (shown in Figs. 1 to 6) is as follows: v

The door 9 is opened, thereby movingrod 44 to an inoperative position. The valves 32, 49 and 5() now stand in closed position,l but when said valve 5() is opened, the vacuum tank 2 and the vacuum line 21 will exhaust the air from the upper end of the container 4, thus drawing liquid upwardly through the piping 38 and the check valve casing 4f), into L the coupling C and from the latter into said container 4.' lVhen the liquid rises in the container to a sufficient height, it raises ioat 23 and closes valv-e 22, thus cutting off the suction through the vacuum line. If the suction is insufficient to sustain the float when the liquid is discharged from the container`4, the valve 50 is now immediately closed. vbut otherwise closing may be delayed. The valve 49 is now opened, thereby allowing the' excess liquid to drain through the overflow pipe to the piping 38 for discharge into the tank l; This having been done, the valve 32 is opened, thus allowing the liquid to discharge from the container 4 through the when the service station is closed at night, f

the rod 44 is pushed inwardly and holds the valve43 against closing, thereby allow; ing the entire system to dra-in into the supf ply tank l.

The operation of the apparatus' shown in Fig. .7 1s very similar to that above described, the liquid being introduced into the containers through the piping 52 and the check valves 53 Drainage howeverl takes place through the valve=58 when the door- 9 is closed. f

If the apparatus, be provided with the two doors 8 and 9, the former will permit 7 when the system is locked for the nightv -the hose 31 to' be positioned in the housing or whenever its use is to be discontinued, i but 1t 1s to be understood that in some forms of the invention, two doors are not essential.

Also, regardless of the several specific details shown and described, numerous minor changes may well be made, but I attach great importance to the general simplifica! tion of construction; tothe provision of the valves to prevent overflowing of the liquid until the iioat valves have closed; upon the novel drainage means employed; and upon the door operated valve for controlling such drainage means.

l claim: i

l. A liquid dispensing system comprising a dispensing container, a supply tank, supply piping from said tank to said container, a. liquid-opened check valve for s 'ld piping, a vacuum line on4 the exterior o said contaiiier adapted to exhaust the air from said container to cause filling thereof through said piping, an. overlow from said container, a float valve whose float operates in said container for cutting oil' the suction through said vacuum line at each operation of the system when the liquid level in said container has risen to the inlet' of said overflow, a valve for said overflow adapted to remainclosed while said vacuum line is operating to exhaust the air from said container, and a valved outlet from said container.

2. In a liquid dispensing system, a dispensing container, a supply tank, a pipe coupling having two horizontally opening branches, one downwardly opening branch and one upwardly opening branch, the latter communicating with said container, a

supply pipe from said tank to one of said horizontally opening branches, and a valved outlet pipe from the other horizontal branch, a liquid-opened check valve for said supply pipe, an overflow pipe extending through said coupling in spa-ced relation to said upwardly and horizontally opening branches but secured snugly in and depending from said downwardly opening branch to return excess liquid to said supply tank, a vacuum line. on the exterior of said container and communicating with the upper end thereof, a valve having a float operating in said container at eachoperation of the system for cutting off th'e suction through said vacuum line when the liquid level in said container has reached the inlet of saidA overflow, and a valve for said 4overiiow adapted to remain closed while said vacuum line is operating to exhaust/the air from said container.

3. In a liquid dispensing system, a dispensin container having outlet means and a supply tank below said container, supply piping from said tank to said container, and means for supplyingr said container with liquid by way of said piping, a valve. iii said supply piping for normally .preventing return of liquid through said piping, a housing for parts of said system having a door to be closed when-operation of said system is to be discontinued, and means for controlling said valve from said door to hold the former against closing when said door is closed, whereby drainage of the system may take place through said piping.

4. In a liquid dispensing system, a dispensin container having outlet means, and ansiipp y tank below said container, supply piping from said tank to the lower end of said container, and means for supplying said container with liquid by way of said piping, a check valve in said supply piping for nornially preventing return of liquid through said piping a housing for parts of said system having a door to be closed when operation of said system is to be discontinued, and means for controlling said check valve from said door to hold the former against closing when said door is closed, whereby drainage of the system may take place through said piping.

5. In a liquid dispensing system, a dispensing container having outlet means, and a supply tank below said container, supply piping from said tank to the lower end of said container and means for supplying said container with liquid by way of said piping, a check valve casing in said piping having a valve seat and a stuiling box coacting with said seat to normally prevent return of liquid through said piping, a housing for parts of said system having a door adapted to be closed when operation of the system is to be discontinued, a stein slidin through lsaid stufling box and shifted by closing of said door to hold said valve in a check valve open position, whereby drainage of the system may take place through said piping, and means for returning said stein to its' inoperative position when said door is opened.

6. In a liquid dispensing system, a dispensing container having outlet means, and a supply tank below said container, supply piping from said tank to the lower end of said containenand means for supplying said container with liquid by way of said piping, a check valve casing in said piping having a valve seat and a stuffing box, a check valve coacting with said seat to normally prevent return of liquid through said piping, a house ing for parts of said system having a door adapted to be closed when operation of the system is to be discontinued, a stein sliding through said stuffing box and shifted by closing of said door to hold said valve in open position, whereby drainage of the system may take place through said piping, and i exhaust the air from said container to cause liquid to fiow from said tank to said container by way of said supply pipe, and an overilow pipe leading from said container through said pipe coupling in spaced rela.-

tion to the wall of said branch thereof and secured to said pipe coupling, said overiiow pipe communicating with said supply pipe.

8. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a 4dispensing container, a supply tank, a pipe coupling provided with an upwardly opening branch, a downwardly opening branch and a pair of horizontally opening branches, said upwardly opening branch being connected to and communicating with the lnterior of said container, a valved delivery pipe connected to one of said horizontally opening branches and communicating with the interior of said container by way of said upwardly opening branch, a supply pipe leading from said tank to the other horizontally opening branch and communicating with the interior of said-container by way of Said upwardly opening branch, a vacuum line on the exterior of said container adapted to exhaust the air from said container to cause liquid to iow through said supply pipe from said tank to said container, and an overflow pipe extending centrally through said coupling in spaced relation to said upwardly and horizontally opening branches thereof, said overiow pipe being secured snugly in and depending from said downwardly opening branch and communicating with said supply pipe at a point between its connection with said other horizontally opening branch and its connection with said tank.

In testimony whereof I have my hand.

hereunto set 'URIAH R. MOCUTCHEN. 

